NFL owners on same page after meeting

Anyone expecting a grand proclamation Tuesday at the conclusion of an NFL owners meeting in Rosemont came away disappointed. But that does not mean the slow and steady march toward a new collective bargaining agreement with players was halted.

"I don't think there is anything definitive to report except we have to keep working at it," Colts owner Jim Irsay said.

The work will continue Wednesday in the Boston area when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and select owners will meet with NFLPA executives in another negotiating session.

"There is a lot of work to be done," Irsay said. "It's a process. Every day closer, that's the goal."

Many team executives, including Bears Chairman George McCaskey, afterward cited a self-imposed league gag order to decline comment.

Others acknowledged the meeting was mostly about the dissemination of information. They said nothing Goodell had to report was surprising and that there were no vehement disagreements about the big issues.

"We have a consensus on the fundamental economic principles we are looking for, and that has been true for some time," said Jeff Pash, NFL executive vice president and lead negotiator.

There had been inklings from the league that the meeting could extend into Wednesday, but it wrapped up in about five hours.

Goodell remains hopeful that the lockout will not affect the football season.

"The agreement has to address several issues," he said. "Those issues are complex. And it needs to be done in a way that's fair."

Goodell acknowledged the owners, players and fans all want the season to go as scheduled.

"And that's our job, to try to make that happen," he said.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported Goodell informed the team owners that an understanding is in place for the players to receive approximately 48 percent of "all revenue," minus a $1 billion credit for owners' expenses off the top. In the previous CBA, players received 60 percent of "total revenue," but the figure did not include a $1 billion credit.

The figure apparently is acceptable to the NFLPA because projections say NFL revenue should double to $18 billion a year by 2016. Teams also may be required to spend more than they have in the past.

Also expected to be part of the new deal are a rookie wage scale, a return to unrestricted free agency after four years from the six since 2010 and better health care and pension benefits for retirees.

There also has been talk of the Thursday night package being expanded to 16 games. Asked about it after the meeting Tuesday, Goodell said, "I haven't focused on that recently. You mean in the collective bargaining agreement? We haven't discussed that recently."

Goodell and many of the owners left Chicago feeling they had taken another step on Tuesday.

"Ownership has a better understanding of the framework and I think we have a better understanding of the various issues and priorities within the membership," Goodell said.